Monkey Love

Anna is whooped. Head over heels. Utterly and completely infatuated. IN LOVE with monkeys. Actually one particular monkey. Curious George.

When did this love affair begin? Who knows exactly.

It could have started when she was a baby. She had a FAVORITE book that she loved toting around to church, restaurants, EVERYWHERE we went. It was this little monkey book that her Aunt Sue gave her.

Or maybe could it have been the monkeys (orangutans actually) that we saw swinging above our heads at the National Zoo?

Nah, she was more interested in the zoo cookies Aunt Andrea gave her.

Or was it love at first sight the first time she watched an episode of Curious George?

Whenever it began exactly, it doesn't matter, but she hasn't stopped loving since.

It's funny thinking back on the progression of her monkey love. Before she could talk, she knew how to communicate her monkey priority. When I would get her up in the morning, first thing she would do, was "ee-ee, ah-ah". This meant, "I want to watch that funny monkey show."

Eventually this turned into, "Dorge!" and now it's a "George!" and sometimes, "My George-y!"

It's so funny watching her watch Curious George. She gets so in to it. It's like a man watching a football game. If someone is getting in the way of George's plans, she yells at the TV, "No Hundley! no!" or "Go Way Sharkie! Go Way!" And my favorite, "HAT! HAT!" (for the man in the yellow hat)

She has a few George's that she carries around with her during the day. She likes to show George things that she thinks are neat. We'll be doing something and she stops and says, "Show George! Show George!" and runs to get him. And she even has George talk to grandma on the phone sometimes too. On Dave's birthday when I told her we were going to make daddy a cake, she said, "I like cake! George LOVES cake." It cracked me up because that morning she watched an episode about George getting a job to try and earn money for an Easy Bake Oven to bake cakes. Last week we were reading a book and the character had a baby sister. Anna said, "Anna want baby sista. George want baby sista." (Ahem, we'll have to talk to daddy about that.)

Out of all the things for her to be in love with, I love that she's in love with this monkey. Sure he can get into trouble, but he's a good little monkey. It's never scary, there's no bad guys. It's safe. And there's a line of books, to boot. The best part is, I have used George as an example countless times and things click with her. Like, "Remember how George's tub broke when he took his regular toys in the tub?" Issue solved. Non-water proof toys dropped and she's running for the tub without a fight. "Anna, we can't eat noodles until they're cooked. We have to make them floppy, like George did." Noodles go in the floppification pot and all is well.

So how long will this love affair last? I don't know, but as long as she doesn't take him to the prom, I'm okay with it. George is nice to have around.

A Historic Day

I am proud to be an American. Every day. I have never been ashamed to be a part of this wonderful country. But I am especially proud when millions of Americans come together in support of something. I couldn't help get chills today watching the inauguration. The capitol looked so beautiful decked out in the stars and stripes and I loved the energy, the patriotic music and words spoken. I love the tradition of it all, too. Even though I don't agree with some of Obama's views, once someone is President, I respect them and really hope they succeed. They have a tough job. And any time one man can inspire so many people, that's good too.

I tried to watch the coverage as much as possible today in between Anna's pleads for Curious George. Wanting to discuss this important event and have an adult conversation, I explained to my 2-year old that this is a very important day, one that she'll read about in school one day. The first African-American was just sworn in as President, when only decades ago, an African-American couldn't ride a bus, or eat lunch. And we are so lucky to live in this country of democracy and freedom. And she stared at me, and said, "George!" But she wasn't talking about Washington. So I remembered that she was 2 and told her there would be a parade on TV soon. And then she liked, "Presen Omama" as she calls him.

Get your own, here.

So Good Luck President Obama! We hope with you.

One more (I can't help it)

MY DIAPER

Paci-Free for 1 week

It has been 1 whole week that Anna has been paci free! Can I get a whoo-hoo?!

Wednesday night I was strategizing my plan for how do ditch the pacifier. I found some good ideas, the paci fairy, dropping it off to the newborn babies at the hospital, and the more intense, cruel method, dipping it in Tabasco sauce. I had decided to do the paci fairy because, well, it was cute. But ironically Thursday morning when Anna woke up, she couldn't find her paci anywhere. We really couldn't. So we went about our day without it. I was so pleased, but nervous for nap time. I had to find that paci before she did. Well, Anna's acting very 2-year-oldish lately, and after playing outside and running out in the road multiple times, that was it. I had had it. So I grabbed my toddler and put her in her room kicking and screaming for her nap hoping she wouldn't find the pacifier that I didn't have the chance to find. Well, she did. Darnit! I still don't know where it was hidden. But we had started something. (And on a side note, she woke up from her nap and she knew she had been naughty. The first thing she said when she saw me was the cutest guilty "Sawrchee!" that I've ever seen.)

The next morning, we just couldn't find the paci after breakfast for some reason. Surprisingly, she seemed to accept this explanation. She would ask for it about once an hour and we would try to "find" it, but of course it was lost. She started asking for it less frequently and naptimes and bedtimes weren't really that bad. (or should I say, weren't much worse) Then she started blaming it on the birdies. Those darn birdies. It must have been those same birdies that took it last Fall when we were outside swinging. They would bring it back on her window sill for naptimes and bedtimes, but then they got lazy and stopped coming to get it again. And that paci made her happy and comforted, and helped mommy on planes since then. So we are very glad that the birdies gave her a break and let her keep it a little longer. When she says that the birdies took her paci, I tell her that yes, it could have been the birdies. They must have noticed that she was a big girl now and that she didn't need the paci anymore. Then she says, "Birdies, take blankie?" Uh-oh this girl may develop a strong dislike of birds.

A couple of days into it, we were reading our bedtime stories and she was being a good girl and putting the books back on the shelves after we were done. She couldn't quite get one in, so I went to go help her by lifting some books that had fallen over. Guess what was stashed underneath? A long-lost forgotten pacifier! I tried to grab it quick, but Anna was onto me. She went right for the pocket I snuck it in and was so pleased that her paci had been "found"! Darnit! That night, I sneaked into her room and swiped that paci away for good, like a mean mommy would. The next morning? Trouble? Nope! Phew! This was going so much easier than I thought.

The only problem with this solution is that she may be on a life-long quest for finding her paci again. The other morning when she woke up, she for some reason had the idea that her paci MUST be in the dryer. That's where she finds her blankie after its been missing after all. So I took her down to our laundry closet and we looked in the washer and the dryer and we just could not find that paci. Hmmmm. It must be gone for good.

I must say that I am so glad that I waited until it seemed right to break the paci habit instead of trying to force it to meet some "ideal" of when she should be done. It made both our lives much easier and I think she actually does get that she's a big girl now and doesn't need it. That's not to say she won't be missing it for awhile. But I think the transition will be easier than it would have been if I tried to force it sooner. Again, just trying to do what's best for her instead of comparing and worrying about what's best for others. (Like the random old ladies in the store telling me that she's too old for a pacifier and their kids stopped theirs at 9 months, blah, blah, blah. Did I ask their opinion? No!)

There definitely is a lot of "big girl"ness going on here lately. She decided to ditch her crib last month and now is in our version of a toddler bed (crib, minus one side) Although it's good to reach these milestones and watch her develop and become an individual and more independent, it also makes me sad. How fast time has flown by since the first time I placed her in that crib to sleep. I love my little, big girl. And now that cute smile of hers won't be hiding behind that big paci anymore.

This is Anna. She has been paci-free for 7 days.

A sign...

...that Dave needs to get more sleep and be done with this Urology rotation he's on right now:

Last night we were watching TV and Dave fell asleep (a usual occurrence).

I asked him a question, to which he responded, "Are you going to take her catheter out?"

Did he just say what I think he said?

I ask laughing, "What did you say?"

"Take her catheter out!"

I couldn't stop laughing. And Dave just rolled over and continued snoozing...

Poor guy worked over 80 hours in just 5 days. And it was his birthday. Can't blame him for sleeptalking strange hospital phrases.

TGUIOT (Thank Goodness Urology is Over on Tuesday!)

Focus in 2009

Yesterday I sat down and wrote this big long post about my new word for the new year.

Then I re-read it and realized that that big long post was totally contradicting my goal of being focused. So here is a short and sweet note about what I hope for in 2009. I have to write here to make it real for me.

If you know me, you know that I am so very random. Thoughts are racing through my head so quick that I going from "this" to "that" before figuring out what to do about the original "this" all the while, trying to multitask, "the other". I'm sure lots of people feel this way at times, but I have seriously felt this way for WAY too long. Lately I feel like I can barely put together a complete sentence. And sometimes I'm so easy-going that I just go with the flow and never accomplished what I really needed to.

I know that this is partly just one of those quirky parts of me to embrace, but there's no harm in trying to improve. This word has been resonating in my head for the past few months, especially last month when it seemed everything was happening at once.

FOCUS works for me because it can apply to so many aspects of my life. However, I want to FOCUS on three main areas:

1. MY MIND - I need to take a deep breathe and focus my thoughts. Because really, if my mind isn't focused, then everything else seems to unravel and I am just trying to catch up. I know it's funny to joke about how you lose your mind when you become a mother, but I really have lost it. I've been meaning to write a post about how I was smarter when I was naturally blonde. I'm serious. So, it's time to try to recover the lost brain cells and get back to the old "kind of smart" Ashley. And thinking before I speak is always good too.


2. MY BUDGET - With the state of the economy and the unknown future, I have been feeling like I really need to get our finances in order. Now that I'm not working and life is getting more expensive as Anna gets older, it's time to be on a strict budget. Don't get me wrong, we're not in debt luckily (besides those little student loans), but no more shopping carelessly, even if it is a good deal. (I'm a sucker for a good deal. It's in my genes.) I need to focus on whether we really need that instead of just want it. And if I'm on a budget, I can maybe take care of both the needs and the wants. Just more strategically.


3. MY FAMILY - Of course this is where I want the main focus to be. It's what its all about after all. And most importantly, I don't want to lose focus on what matters most when things get busy. I want to really focus on what is best for Anna, not just for today, but for her future. Remembering to live in the moment, while knowing that the moments are what shape her future. And focus on good, quality time when we can actually all be together. And families happen to be the theme for primary this year, which will be a good reminder. I think the theme sums up the best way to direct this focus, "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ."

That's it! Not exactly short and sweet, but it's at least shorter than my previous one. Guess I just have to get it all out. Now, FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS!

Here's to a Happy Focused New Year!